Haiku Dreaming Australia
sources for these notes and images
These Notes 3/5 are designed for access from a haiku to the relevant entry
and return to the haiku using the browser "Back" button.
Generally, each entry contains only sufficient information to appreciate the haiku
but where appropriate, I've provided links for further reading.
Entries in this Note 3/5 are included for:
sources for these notes and images
These Notes 3/5 are designed for access from a haiku to the relevant entry
and return to the haiku using the browser "Back" button.
Generally, each entry contains only sufficient information to appreciate the haiku
but where appropriate, I've provided links for further reading.
Entries in this Note 3/5 are included for:
|
Koala Possum Wallaby Echnidna Old Shep |
Emu Kestrel(2) Mopoke Lorikeet R Flame Tree Cockatoo Kookaburra |
Frogmouth Whipbird Galah Wonga King Parrot(2) Brush Turkey Black Cocky |
Entry for: Koala
Entry for: Possum
"Almost exclusively tree-dwelling, in forests, woodlands, rainforests, dense scrub and suburban gardens. Nest in spherical nests (dreys) in tree hollows, undergrowth or tree forks. Mainly leaf-eaters but may eat flowers and fruits. Has adapted to living in urban environments, often foraging in gardens." -- from Australian Museum Fact Sheet: Ring-tailed Possum, recommended for further reading.
| click to enlarge |  Image courtesy of Australian Museum |
Ring-tailed Possum Photo: GB Baker/Nature Focus © Australian Museum |
Entry for: Wallaby
A member of the Macropodidae family. Most genera resemble small kangaroos.
Red-knecked Wallaby
Image Courtesy of and © Southernson Photos of Australia
on the wallaby (track) is colloquial for 'on the move',
often applied to seasonal workers or swaggies.
Entry for: Echidna
Together with the platypus, echidnas are the world's only monotremes, or egg-laying mammals.
Further reading
Entry for: Queenslander
Queenslander (or Old Queenslander) architecture is a style common throughout Queensland. Buildings are identifiable by large verandahs and large double doors which open onto these verandahs. They are typically raised on stumps firstly to elevate the houses for ventilation and secondly to protect them from floodwaters, as well as termites and other pests. Most Queenslanders were typically built of wood but with corrugated iron roofs.
They are popular with cane farmers and are commonly seen in a mown area surrounded by cane.
The taipan is a highly venemous and aggressive snake that often makes its home in canefields (until they were fired prior to harvesting).
Entry for: Old Shep
A lament written by Red Foley about a faithful sheep dog. It was famously recorded by Walter Brennan and Elvis Presley and, in Australia, by Tex Morton."When I was a lad
And Old Shep was a pup
Over hills and... "
BLUE - cattle dog kelpie
Entry for: Australian Terrier
Perhaps the poet was referring to this animal
Entry for: Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)
The Emu is a large flightless bird, 1.5 to 2 metres tall. It can run extremely fast. Emus feed on grass, leaves and small insects. They live all over Australia in grasslands.
further reading
Image courtesy of and © Australian Fauna
Entry for: Nankeen Kestrel
The Australian or Nankeen Kestrel (Falco cenchroides) is a small falcon widespread through Australia. It is often seen hovering in the air in search of rodents and insects.
click
to
enlarge
Images courtesy of and © Greg Holland and Leon Keasey
Australian Birdlife Photo Gallery
Entry for: "Mo-poke" (Dromaius novaehollandiae)
The Southern Boobook (Ninox novaeseelandiae) is the smallest and most common owl in Australia. It is frequently called a "mopoke" after its "mo-poke" call.
Further reading
[image required]
Entry for: Lorikeet
Rainbow Lorikeet
Photos: K Vang and W Dabrowka
/ Bird Explorers © K Vang and W Dabrowka
Image courtesy of the Australian Museum
further reading: Birds in Backyards fact sheet
Flame Tree: see [pic of Illawarra Flame Tree wanted]
Entry for: Cockatoo
The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is a large white parrot. It is noisy and conspicuous, both at rest and in flight. further reading.
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Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Photo: DA Trounson © Australian Museum Image courtesy of Australian Museum |
Entry for: Kookaburra
"The chuckling voice that gives this species its English name is a common and familiar sound throughout the bird's range. The loud 'koo-koo-koo-koo-koo-kaa-kaa-kaa' is often sung in a chorus with other individuals." -- from Australian Museum Fact Sheet: Laughing Kookaburra.
Kookaburra
Photo: G Threlfo/Nature Focus © Australian Museum
Image courtesy of Australian Museum
Entry for: Tawny Frogmouth
Insectivorous bird of Australia and SE Asia having a wide frog-like mouth.
Entry for: Whipbird
Eastern Whipbird Photo courtesy of Abberton Bird Lodge
Photographer: Bill Jolly. © Bill and Eileen Jolly
The whipbird is small, secretive and rarely seen in the thick undergrowth where it lives. But its dramatic call, a low note followed by a "whipcrack", is common in the bush.
Entry for: Wonga Wonga or Wonga Pigeon
"A large, plump, ground-dwelling pigeon with a small head, short, broad wings and a long tail... Loud monotonous 'woop woop' calls can be heard up to 2 km away and can be given for hours."
Photo: SG Lane Collection
Courtesy and © Australian Museum
More information and pic from Birds in Backyards Fact Sheet
Said to be named after the "Onga" brand farm pump whose thumping sound is like the monotonous call of the pigeon.
Entry for: Galah
"The Galah is one of the most abundant and familiar of the Australian parrots, found in large flocks, in a variety of timbered habitats, usually near water." From Galah Fact Sheet, Australian Museum, for further reading.
click to enlarge Galah in Canberra garden
Image courtesy of and ©
National Archives of Australia
NAA: A6135, K3/8/81/8
In Australian slang, a galah is a foolish showoff, as in: You bloody galah!
Entry for: King Parrot
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Australian King-Parrot, male Photos: K Vang and W Dabrowka / Bird Explorers © K Vang and W Dabrowka |
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Entry for: Australian Brush-Turkey
"The Australian brush turkey can be found in NSW and Queensland. It lives in humid forests along the eastern seaboard and inland to the wetter ranges..." -- from NPWS Fact Sheet.
[pic wanted]
It is a fowl-like bird that incubates eggs in a litter mound. The male adjusts mound temperature by adding or removing litter.
Further reading: australian museum online and Australian Natural History Safari
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